{at the shops: andrea bonelli jewelry, san francisco}

. . . have been having a wonderful time dreaming up holiday gift ideas, and quite adore self-taught san francisco bay area-based metalsmith andrea bonelli's beautifully simple and classic handmade jewelry line -- filled with diamond stacking bands and glittering moissanite studs, the collection is also eco friendly, using recycled and ethically mined diamonds and gems and would be the perfect gifts, boxed and wrapped in gold paper and tied with velvet ribbon, or, if you can not bear to part with them, equally perfect with silk-taffeta one-shouldered dresses for upcoming holiday parties . . .

{images: andrea bonelli jewelry}

{look good while doing good: the market bag}

. . . few things are lovelier than the chance to give back, and so, quite adore the market bag from california-based apolis activism: produced by saidpur enterprise, a non-profit in bangladesh, the market bag is handcrafted by from locally grown golden jute and vegetable tanned leather reinforced with antique nickel rivets, and finished with a waterproof lining and an interior pocket, perfect for summer saturday mornings picking up bouquets and baguettes . . .

{images: apolis activism via commerce with a conscience; this project employs 75 women in bangledesh}

{eco chic: decanterlights}

. . . p's mother has a beautiful cut crystal decanter collection displayed in their formal living room and have always loved the way they glimmer and add such elegance, and so was much delighted to discover another use for them -- decanterlights, by british designer lee broom, are pendant light fixtures created from vintage crystal decanters sourced from antique markets and vintage shops and available in a natural clear crystal or polished gold -- aren't they lovely?

{p.s.} more stylish eco chic inspiration:

cushions | cork | wine bottle centrepieces

{images: lee broom via moco loco}

{inspiration: vintage brooch bouquets}

. . . have come across vintage flower brooches many times in quaint little shops on the way out of the city, and while have thought to group pretty clusters on the lapel of a boyfriend blazer, had never thought to fashion them into utterly enchanting and everlasting bouquets . . .

{images: vintage brooch bouquets by fantasy floral designs, photography by alice hu; ruffled via beautiful things to share}

{holiday inspiration: wine bottle centerpieces}

. . . eco-chic & perfect for holiday parties: beautiful clusters of clear glass wine bottles in a festive grouping, candles a-glow with pure romance and perfect flickers of light . . .

{scan by tig: photography by tom mannion for elle decoration december 2009}

{eco chic: emma loves retro}

. . . fun, fun cushions from emma loves retro, in beautiful colours + patterns and handmade from vintage and recycled fabric

{inspiration: handmade}

Lately have been a little obsessed with notebook and scrapbook layouts, such as on the ever-inspiring French blog, Boubou Teatime, and these lovely water-stained, handwritten photographs . . .

{p.s.} this spring collection elevates eco-chic to a whole new level



{images: mr. larkin via a very lovely reader}

{eco-chic: murre handbag}

Handmade, eco-friendly & ultra-stylish: can hardly believe that this beautiful handbag used to be a leather jacket . . .

{murre bag by ashley watson via the candystore collective}

{eco chic: cork}

{photography by Max Kim-Bee for Domino September 2006 }

I used to have a rather large cork inspiration board above my desk, filled with the things I liked to gaze at while working and daydreaming. And while it has since been replaced with a picture wall, I've always missed the versitility of the cork . . .

Perhaps I could find a little cork lamp {above}, similar to Jessie Randall's, who adds a personal touch with photobooth strips and a brooch from her father's antiques shop.

{photography by Joshua McHugh for Domino March 2007}

Seamless-looking cork floor is as durable as hardwood also cushions tired feet and works well in high-traffic areas.

{photography by Paul Costello}

Jodie Patterson Becker, publicist for Zac Posen's foyer wall, covered with a sheet of corkboard and personal photographs.

{photography by Justin Bernhaut for Domino, March 2007}

This beautiful, tile-like floor is cleverly made from wine bottle stoppers.

{cork tables via automatism}

{photography by John Coolidge for Domino January 2008}

Former interior designer Suzanne Donegan's cork walled studio in her L.A. apartment.

{photography by Justin Bernhaut for Domino March 2007}

Make a huge impact with wonderful graphic patterns of peel-and-press cork tiles.